Phil Jones hailed a potential great

FIRST it was Duncan Edwards, now Phil Jones has found himself mentioned in the same breath as two other football luminaries.

Phil Jones has impressed for both club and country so far this season []

Phil Jones’ seamless adaptation to life at Old Trafford following a £16.5million move from Blackburn had already drawn comparisons with United icon Edwards and Fabio Capello was effusive in his praise for the Manchester United starlet after another impressive England display in the win over Sweden.

Jones’ performance in a midfield holding role highlighted his versatility away from a favoured centre-back position and left Capello bracketing him alongside AC Milan legend Franco Baresi and Real Madrid’s Fernando Hierro.

“It is difficult to find a player like Jones. Really difficult,” said Capello. “I found in my career probably two players like this; Franco Baresi and Fernando Hierro. They played as midfielders and after they played centre-back. They were really good players.”

“Jones can play in different positions always at the top level. He is a talent.

“He is so young, but he is a big talent because when he receives the ball he plays always without fear. Good passes, good solutions, every time the best solution.

“I know something about football and the solution that he chooses every time when he receives the ball is always the best. He is a talent.”

Jones, 19, will give Capello options next summer having made his debut against Montenegro at right-back.

His eye-catching impact from the start against Sweden earmarked him as an obvious understudy to Scott Parker and Capello added: “In this game it was really important to see him play in front of the back four because if Parker will not be fit, I will have a solution.

“He can play every other position, but for me it was a really important test for him.”

Centre-half is widely viewed as his best position, although Sam Allardyce, who gave Jones his debut when he was in charge at Blackburn, believes such a role would fail to harness his natural ability for the time being.

“The only thing that will suppress his ability as a central defender is his outstanding ability on the ball,” said Allardyce, now West Ham boss.

“Right-back might be even better for him because his attacking flair and attacking qualities are equally as good as his defensive qualities.

“He was very unfortunate not to score against Sweden and that shows that playing him at centre-back might suppress his great ability on the ball.”